Happy Fastnacht Day!
For those of you wondering what I'm talking about, here is a condensed version:
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (which is this Wednesday). Normally, Lent is a time of fasting or denial of some kind, in an effort to focus on religion, to honor and come a smidgen closer to empathizing with Christs Lenten journey. Anyway, this fasting led to the many varieties of holidays of eating lots of fat on the Tuesday before the fasting begins. You have Marte Gras (Fat Tuesday), Pancake Day, and of course Fastnacht Day. This last one was started by the Pennsylvania Dutch peoples (most likely the Amish or plain peoples) as a way to use up the fat and sugar in the house so there was no wasted food and no temptation over Lent.
Fastnachts are yeast raised potato doughnuts. The name is German for Fast Night. Now I know what you are thinking. It's just a doughnut. But, oh no no no no no no no! It's not! They taste different than most doughnuts sold, they are doughier and more rich but less sugary, and they will never have a hole in the middle! You can eat them anyway you want, but often you see them cut in half with a little butter and a spoonful of "Mrs. Schlorer's Turkey Syrup®" or "Golden Barrel Table Syrup®". I personally just like them plain.
Now I know you all aren't Christian and most of you are way far out of PA Dutch Country to get a Fastnacht, but whatever you believe and where ever you live....today, you should eat yourself up as much fatty, sugary foods as you can get! (that was a little PA Dutch speak for ya. Here's some more.....
"Throw me down the stairs my hat." "Throw da cow ova' the fence some hay, won'tcha nah?")
Okay all, Ich geh nau schlofe.
